How to transfer apps from one Android to another Xiaomi: all working ways

Moving apps from an old smartphone to a new Xiaomi is a challenge that every user faces when changing devices. Even if both devices run on Android, the process does not always go smoothly: somewhere the settings are lost, application data is not transferred, and sometimes you have to download them at all. APK-In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to transfer applications between Xiaomi devices, including official tools from the manufacturer and universal methods for any Android device.

Xiaomi’s smartphone features include the Mi Mover, which makes migration much easier, but it doesn’t work perfectly: for example, not all apps support data transfer through the service. Alternative methods, from using a Google Account to manually copying an APK, will help in cases where standard solutions don’t work. It’s also important to consider the MIUI and Android version on both devices: on MIUI 14+, some Mi Mover features may be limited due to changes in security policy.

If you just purchased the new Redmi Note 13 Pro+ or Xiaomi 14 Ultra and want to migrate all applications from the old device – this is the guide for you. We will consider not only the basic methods, but also the nuances that will help you avoid data loss or synchronization errors.

1.Official way: Mi Mover for Xiaomi

Mi Mover is Xiaomi’s proprietary solution for fast data transfer between the brand’s devices, which supports not only apps, but also contacts, messages, photos and even some system settings, but there are limitations: for example, not all third-party applications can be ported with data saved (especially for banking applications and games).

To use Mi Mover, follow the following steps:

• 📱 Install the Mi Mover app on both devices (unless it's preinstalled.
• 🔗 Connect both smartphones to the same Wi-Fi network (preferably to an access point created by one of the devices).
• 📲 On the old phone, select the role of "Sender", on the new one - "Receiver".
• 🔍 Scan it. QR-code from the screen of a new device with an old smartphone for pairing.
• 📋 Select data to transfer (required to mark "Applications") and confirm the beginning of the process.

The speed of transfer depends on the amount of data and the stability of the connection. On average, transferring 20-30 applications takes 10-20 minutes. Note: if a new device has a newer version of MIUI installed, some applications may not be portable due to incompatibility.

2. Transfer through Google Account (universal method)

If you can’t use Mi Mover (for example, one of the devices is not from Xiaomi), you can use standard synchronization through Google Account. This method works on any Android device, but has a limitation: only the list of installed applications is transferred, not their data (for example, save games or setup messengers).

Instructions:

1. On your old phone, open Settings → Google → Backup and turn on the option “Data Backup.” Make sure that the backup list shows “Apps.”
2. On the new Xiaomi device, when you first turn on, select “Recover Data” and log in to the same Google account.
3. In the list of available backups, select the latter and confirm the recovery.

Once the process is complete, apps will automatically install from Google Play, a method that is convenient because it does not require additional programs, but is not suitable for transferring data within apps, such as chats on WhatsApp or Telegram will have to be moved separately.

Check Wi-Fi connection on both devices |

Make sure there is enough space on the new phone |

Enable backup on old device |

Log in to the same Google account-->

Manual transfer APK-Files (for experienced users)

If you only need to migrate apps without unnecessary data (or if the app is not available in your region on Google Play), you can copy it. APK-This is a little bit more effort, but it gives you complete control of the process.

For extraction APK-files from the old device:

• 📲 Install a file manager with support for working with APK, For example, Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer.
• 🔍 Go to the folder. /data/app/ (You need root rights, or use an app like this. APK Extractor for extracting installed APK superuserless.
• 📤 Copy the right ones. APK-files to a memory card or cloud storage (e.g. Google Drive).
• 📥 On the new Xiaomi device, transfer files and install them, allowing installation from unknown sources to Settings. → Annexes → Special access rights.

This method is suitable for porting rare or modified applications, but has risks: some APKs may not work on a new version of Android or MIUI due to changes in the API.

4. Use of third-party programs (ShareMe, Xender)

If Mi Mover doesn't work or you want to transfer data between different brands, you can use third-party applications to transfer files, the most popular ones are ShareMe (formerly Mi Drop) and Xender, which allow you to transfer not only applications, but also other files over Wi-Fi Direct without connecting to the Internet.

Instructions for ShareMe:

1. Install ShareMe on both devices from Google Play or Mi App Store.
2. On the old phone, select "Send", on the new one - "Get".
3. Scan it. QR-device-coupling.
4. In the data list, select "Applications" and confirm the transfer.

The advantage of this method is that it has a fast transfer rate (up to 20 MB/s) and no Internet connection required, but as with the Mi Mover, not all applications can be ported with data saved, such as Viber or Signal requiring re-authorization.

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If the transmission is interrupted, try connecting both devices to the same Wi-Fi network instead of using Wi-Fi Direct. This can improve stability, especially in the face of interference.

5. Transfer over ADB (for advanced users)

For those who are familiar with Android Debug Bridge (ADB), There's a way of moving applications over the command line, and it's the most flexible way to copy things. APK, butt-data (/data/data/). However, it requires skills to work with ADB It can be dangerous if used incorrectly.

Step-by-step:

1. Install ADB on your computer (you can download from the official Android website).
2. Enable USB Debugging on both devices (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 Taps → Settings → Additional → Developers).
3. Connect the old device to the PC and execute the command to retrieve the list of applications: adb shell pm list packages -f
4. Copy the APK and data you need (example for WhatsApp): adb pull /data/app/com.whatsapp-1/base.apk adb pull /data/data/com.whatsapp
5. Connect the new device and install the applications: adb install base.apk adb push com.whatsapp /data/data/

This method allows you to transfer all application data, including settings and cache, but it requires caution: incorrect commands can cause a system failure. Also note that some applications (for example, banking) may block work on a new device due to changes in IDs.

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Moving over ADB is the only way to save data from apps that don’t support backups through Google or Mi Mover, but it’s only suitable for power users.

Comparison of application portability methods

To choose the best method, compare all the methods considered on key parameters: speed, data storage and execution complexity.

For most Xiaomi users, the best solution is Mi Mover, which is simple and reliable. If you want to move data between devices of different brands, ShareMe or Google Account will do. For complete control of the process (for example, when migrating modified applications), you should consider ADB, but only if you are confident in your skills.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When migrating applications, users often face typical preventable problems, and these are the most common mistakes and ways to address them:

• 🚫 Apps don’t migrate through Mi Mover: make sure both devices have the latest version of the app installed.
• 🔄 Cyclical reboot after transfer: this may occur due to version conflict MIUI. The solution is to reset the new device to factory settings and repeat the transfer.
• 🔒 Banking applications are blocked: many banks link applications to a particular device. After the transfer, you may need to re-authorize or reinstall through an official store.
• 📱 New applications are not opened: if APK manually transferred, check compatibility with the Android version on the new device. for example, the Android 10 app may not work on Android 13.

Another common problem is the loss of application data (such as saved games), and to avoid this, check before perenosom whether the application supports cloud storage (for example, through Google Play Games or your own developer account). ADB file-copy /data/data/[package_name].

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Before perenosom applications, back up important data (such as chats in messengers) manually, using built-in application features or specialized programs like Swift Backup (requires root).

⚠️ Note: If you are porting apps from an Android Go-based device (like Redmi Go), please note that some of the apps are not available. APK It may not work on standard Android versions due to optimizations for low-power devices, in which case you will need to look for alternative versions of the applications.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions